Say what you like, and wired connections between computer and mobile devices even with the creation of local networks go into oblivion. This is understandable, because you can’t always carry an appropriate cord or even several different cables with you to establish communication. That is why today, wireless technologies are increasingly used for data exchange, in particular, file transfer via WiFi, despite even lower speed, if we compare it with wired connections. About how such operations are performed, and what is needed for this, read on.
WiFi file transfer: basic options
To begin with, it is necessary to give a discussion of the main actions that are supposed to be performed to exchange data between different devices, without delving into the technical details of the processes that occur.
In general, modern technologies allow you to use file transfer via WiFi from computer to computer, mobile device, or even set-top boxes or panels in several main ways:
- opening files and folders shared directly on the device with the ability to copy the necessary data, as is done on a regular local network;
- sending and receiving information using a direct connection between devices via WiFi, as it is provided for when using Bluetooth-based connections.
The first technique is more suitable in cases where computers are involved in the data exchange process, and the other two are most often used for mobile gadgets, although when installing the appropriate software and observing certain conditions, they are equally suitable for the same laptops. As already clear, the main condition for using any of the described action options is the presence on the device of a workable WiFi wireless module. Connections to TV panels based on LAN technologies are not considered, since this is a separate conversation.
Enabling Network Discovery
So, for starters, consider transferring files over WiFi between computers. Initially, we assume that the router is configured correctly. For convenience, you can create a VPN server on one of the terminals, but this is not a prerequisite. It will be enough that both computer terminals, laptops or mobile devices can connect to an existing connection. To exchange data, you just need to enable device discovery on the network and set up shared access to the necessary drives, files and folders. Of course, in the literal sense, this can’t be called file transfer over WiFi, but this is the simplest option.
To set options, you must enter the network connections section and use the advanced settings option. In a new window, activate the options for enabling network device discovery and enabling file and folder sharing.
For ease of connection, you can disable protection using password access. But that is not all.
File and directory sharing
Despite the fact that sharing seems to be activated in the network settings, file transfer via WiFi is still unavailable. Why? Yes, just because you need to specify which folders or files will be available for viewing from other computers or mobile gadgets. To set these options, you should use the properties section, which is called up on the selected directory or file through the PCM menu on the appropriate tab, and then set access options by pressing the advanced settings button (rather than the usual opening).
Here, the main parameter is setting permissions to perform certain actions for all users.
Home group
If we talk about the installation of shared access, it should be noted that for this you can also use the creation of a home group. In this case, files and folders will be available only for devices included in it.
Settings are made from the same section of network management, however, in this case, the operating system will generate a password that will be used to access the open resources of the first PC from other devices. Now, if you want, on another PC in the same "Explorer" you can select a network drive connection, after which all available networks and connected devices will be displayed in the list. By selecting the desired resource and entering the access password, it will be possible to work with them as with regular partitions.
Using Wi-Fi Direct
Finally, a few words about direct data transfer. Without going into technical details of the operation of Wi-Fi Direct protocols, we can only note that the use of such a connection allows you to do without a router. Typically, this type of data exchange is used in mobile devices running operating systems of the Android family. The activation of the mode, if it is, of course, supported, is carried out in the WiFi section with the choice of additional parameters, both on the transmitting and on the receiving device. With a long press on the file, the send menu will be shown, which will be carried out after searching and selecting a synchronized device. In practice, however, this does not always work (mainly, only on gadgets manufactured by Samsung). But for devices from other manufacturers, you can use additional software utilities.
Software prerequisite
For example, a very interesting application with the highest data transfer speed without any restrictions on file size is the ShareIt utility. It simply generates an access point, on the basis of which synchronization and transmission are performed. No less popular programs can be called WiFiShooT, SuperBeam, etc. But keeping an application with a single function is sometimes unprofitable.
Therefore, you can use the universal X-Plore client, which serves as both a file manager and the role of an access point organizer for Wi-Fi connection.
As already clear, on computers, a similar application for transferring files via WiFi does not need to be installed. In such situations, you can get by using the operating systems Windows.